Media release – Cancer Council Tasmania, 17 March 2025
Government urged to prioritise cancer prevention and supportive care
Cancer Council Tasmania called on the Tasmanian Government to prioritise funding for cancer prevention programs and cancer supportive care services following the release of the Tasmanian Cancer Registry’s annual report into cancer in Tasmania.
According to the report, the number of cancer diagnoses has risen from 3648 in 2020 to 4094 in 2022 and this upwards trend is predicted to continue.
Cancer Council Tasmania CEO Alison Lai said that the most recent data demonstrates the critical need for prioritisation of investment into delivering proven programs that reduce cancer risk and save lives, and increased funding to provide support to those who are navigating a diagnosis.
“We know that increasing number of cancer diagnoses reflects a number of factors, including Tasmania’s aging population,” Ms Lai said.
“Tasmanians have a one in three chance of a cancer diagnosis by the age of 75, increasing to a one in two chance by the time they turn 85. With this knowledge, it is imperative that investment into cancer prevention and supportive care programs and services are prioritised.”
As Tasmania’s leading cancer control charity, Cancer Council Tasmania is the only organisation delivering cancer prevention and cancer supportive care services for all cancers across the state.
“Our core mission is to reduce the incidence and impact of all cancers for all Tasmanians,” Ms Lai said. “We’re very proud of the work that we deliver for the community, particularly our flagship SunSmart program, which is being delivered in 95% of primary schools across Tasmania and across workplaces to help reduce the risk of skin cancer through UV radiation exposure.
“In the last 12 months, we have supported over 2000 Tasmanians impacted by cancer with one-on-one emotional support, support groups, access to complementary therapies, and financial assistance and transported 600 Tasmanians to their cancer treatment. The scope of the services we provide is indicative of how disruptive a cancer diagnosis is to a person and their loved ones.”
With cancer diagnoses increasing alongside an exponential increase in the cost of delivering services, Cancer Council Tasmania is urging the Tasmanian Government to increase their financial contribution to ensure that services are not impacted.
“All of our services are free of charge to the Tasmanian community, which is made possible through the generosity of the Tasmanian community who contribute 87% of the funds required to make this possible, through fundraising, donations and gifts in wills,” Ms Lai said.
“People are often surprised to learn that despite the large impact of cancer in the community, we only currently receive about 13 cents in the dollar from the Tasmanian Government to deliver our cancer prevention and supportive care programs.
“We’ve been actively advocating to Government for this contribution to increase to 25 cents in the dollar, but unfortunately, we have been informed that we are at real risk of having the existing 13 cents reduced even further, with this funding not guaranteed beyond 30 June this year.”
With uncertainty surrounding the Tasmanian Government’s modest contribution to cancer prevention and the delivery of supportive care services, Ms Lai called upon the Government to prioritise cancer prevention and support in the upcoming 2025-26 State Budget.
“For 30 years, Cancer Council Tasmania has been working alongside Tasmanians to fight back against cancer with the Tasmanian community doing the heavy lifting to raise the required funds to do this work,” Ms Lai said.
“We understand the government is facing a challenging budgetary situation, as are the everyday Tasmanians who continue to fundraise and donate funds to our work to ensure no Tasmanian goes without information or support.
“But they can’t do it alone, and with cancer diagnoses on the rise, we are calling on the Tasmanian Government to stand alongside the thousands of everyday Tasmanians who are fighting back against cancer and show their commitment by prioritising an increase in investment to Cancer Council Tasmania’s cancer prevention and supportive care programs and services.”
Link to the Tasmanian Cancer Registry – Cancer In Tasmania Report.
